Contributing to Patient Safety and Best Practice in the Perioperative Environment: Evidence Summary for ACORN Standards

Intent:

The aim of this assessment is to develop students’ understanding of how evidence supports safe and effective perioperative nursing practice. Students will conduct a focused literature review on a specific ACORN Standard. Through this task, students will demonstrate their ability to source, analyse, and extract relevant evidence from four peer-reviewed journal articles.

Using a structured template, students will summarise the background of the topic, outline their search strategy and inclusion/exclusion criteria, complete a data extraction table, and formulate a key evidence-based recommendation based on their findings. This assessment supports the development of foundational skills in evidence-based practice, critical appraisal, and academic writing relevant to perioperative nursing.

Weight: 40%

Task:

Select one (1) topic area from the list below:

• Accountable Items (AI)
• Hypothermia (H)
• Surgical Plume (SP)
• Asepsis (A)

1. Using the provided research question for the selected topic, conduct a literature search to locate three (3) peer-reviewed journal articles published in the last 5 years that provide evidence supporting best practice in your chosen topic area.
2. Critically appraise all three articles using the appropriate JBI appraisal tool for the identified article https://jbi.global/critical-appraisal-toolsLinks to an external site.
3. Data Extraction: Complete a data extraction table to summarise key findings and note critical appraisal score (template provided on Canvas).
4. Write a structured report that includes:
• Background to the Topic (approx. 150 words):
  Introduce your topic and critically discuss its relevance to perioperative practice. Identify the ACORN Standard associated with your topic.
• Search Strategy: Briefly describe the databases used, keywords/search terms, and filters applied.
• Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria: Outline the criteria used to select appropriate literature.
• Data Extraction Table: A structured summary of 4 peer-reviewed journal articles, including the following elements:
• Citation
• Year
• Location
• Study design
• Population/sample
• Intervention/Comparison
• Outcome Measured
• Key findings/ Recommendations
• Implications for Perioperative Nursing Practice
• Quality appraisal (score from the JBI tool)

• Key Recommendations for Nursing Practice (related to selected topic) (approx. 150- 200 words):
• A concise summary statement linking the evidence to the standard and suggesting best practice.
• Reference List: Formatted using APA 7th edition.

Appendices: Attach each completed JBI tool for each paper as an appendix at the end of the report summary

Length: See templateDownload See template

Rubric: Download the Rubric HereDownload Download the Rubric Here

Exemplar of Assessment Three: Click Here